Thread holder for looms



Aug. 4, 1931. A. A. GORDON I THREAD HOLDER FOR LOOMS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. l2. 1929 Aug.

A. A; GORDON l 1,817,137

THREAD HOLDER FOR Looks Filed Sept. 12, 1929 I 2 Sheets-Sheet -2 MWM Patented Aug. 4, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFCE ALB-ERT A. GORDON, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, SEG-TOR TO CROMPTON t MASSACHUSETTS ITS, A CORPORATION 01.7

.IlI-IREADv HOLDER EUR LOOMS Application lcd September 12, 1929.

This invention relates to improvements in thread holders for weft replenishing looms more particularly though not necessarily of the multicolor type and it is the general object of my invention to provide means whereby the weft ends extending from the reserve bobbins are held taut and substantially parallel as the bobbins move downwardly in the magazine.

It is customary in multicolor magazines to store the reserve bobbins in vertical stacks and move the bobbins from one or another of the stacks toward transfer position. The weft ends extend from the bobbins and are anchored or secured to a fixed holder to insure unwinding of the yarn from a newly transferred bobbin so that the weavingoperation may continue uninterruptedly. In the form of thread holders at present in use there is a tendency for the welt ends to become slack, thereby interfering with the proper operation of the magazine at thetime of replenishment. 1t is a further object oi my present invention to provide means 'for holding the wett ends in spaced relation with respect to each other and also taut throughout the descent of the hobbins from the top to the bottom of the magazine.

It is a further object of the invention to employr a reciprocable hobhin carrier and combine therewith a thread holder which is given successive advance movements in the same direction each time the bohbin carrier reciprocates.

lith these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds7 my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

1n the accompanying drawings wherein a convenient embodiment of my invention is set forth,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a mage azine having my invention 'applied thereto7 Fig. 2 is a plan View taken in the direc tion of arrow 2, Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an end elevation taken in the direction ot arrow 3, Fig. 1, Fig. y1lis a detailed end elevation on an Serial No. 392,222.

enlarged scale of certain of the parts shown in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view ot the upper end of one of my improved thread holders.

Fig. G an enlarged vertical section on line GMG of Fig. 37 and Fig. 7 is a view looking in the direction of arrow 7, Fig. 2. Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, l have shown a main frameY 10 having guided 'therein tor vertical movement a pair et bars 1l and 12 provided with depressor 'lingers 13 and 141i, respectively. The bars have secured thereto carriers 15 and 1G, respe-ctively7 which are preferably made of sheet metal and are adapted to hold the reserve bohhins.

An actuator shaft 17 is slidably mounted in a pair of spaced arms or hearings 18 projecting from the main frame 10, and has secured thereto the hub 19 ol' an actuator arm 20. i By means orp mechanisms not set forth herein but shown in my co-pending application. Ser. No. 212,996 the rod 1T is given longitudinal and also angular movements. the longitudinal movement depending upon which shuttle is active and the angular movement to move the arm 2O downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1 when replenishment is to take place.

Each bar has attached thereto the lower end of a tension spring 21 the upper end of which is secured to a pin 22 secured to the main frame 10. rEhe eil'cct of the spring is' to hold the carriers 15 and 1G in raised position. The lowest hohbin ol cach carrier has the butt thereof supported by a shell? 23 and the tip supported by a second shell' 24.

Extending from the main plate 1G is a pair of parallel rods 25 cach having a bont end 26. An auxiliary plate 2T. is secured to the rods 25 and guides the outer end of the carriers. Each plate may have a lin 28 received by a bent portion 2f) on the carrier extend around vthe lin and be guided thereby.

The matter thus far described oi itself forms no part of my present invention. and it is to he understood that when replenishment is to take place one or another of the fingers 13 or lil will be depressed by the acbelow the lowest bobbin ofthe other ca Tier,

Vcomponent whereupon a transferrer designated diagrammatically at in Fig. 2 moves the lowest bobbin toward the shuttle S to replenish the latter, as set forth in the above identiiied application.

' Indoar ying my invention into eiilect I provide supporting block 40 shown more particularly in F ig. o into which extend the ends 26 of the rods 25, the block being held in position by set sc 4l. Located to th right of the block as shown in Figs. l and' 4 is a vertically sliding thread holder 42 having a slot 43 through which evt-end.j one of the rod ends 26. The holder 42 has a second slot 4 4 through which extends a guide screw 45 extended into the supporting block 40.

The outer surface of the holder 42 is provided with a series of vertically spaced notches 46V into one of which extends a spring detent 47 secured to a collar 48 by screw 49. The collar is held to the forward rod end 26 by means of a set screw 50.

Secured to the central portion of the holder in vertical alignment is a plurality of spring clips 5l which are spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the diameter o f the butts ofthe bobbins. The inner portion of the holder is provided with a pluraly ity of ratchet teeth 52 which are preferably so spaced as not to interfere with the weftl ends as the latter extend to the spring clips.

In order to move the holder downwardly with a Astep by step motion I extend the outer portion of the carrier l'to have a depressing finger 53 which is sutliciently resilient to be deflected laterally when moving upwardly along one of the ratchet teeth. The linger normally extends over a ratchet tooth to engage it when descending.

While I have described the holder which is at the front of the magazine er to the rightof Fig. 4, yet it is to be understood that there is another holder designated generally at which is constructed in the manner similar to the lone already described. The carrier l5 is provided with a finger 6l which cooperates with the ratchet teeth 52 formed on the-rear threadv holder 60. In othervrespects the two holders have their Y parts designated by the same reference characters. y

In operation, the magazine Vwill belilled with reserve bobbins, each carrier being provided with bobbins car 1ying wefts of distinctive characters, and the thread holders 42 and GO will be moved to their highest position, the spring detents 47 acting to retain the thread holders in raised position. The weft ends l/V willthen be extended hori- Zontally from the reserve bobbins and placed between the spring slip 5l and the body of the thread holder. lVhen completely lilled the magazine will present the appearance set forth in F ig. l, the weft ends being taut and also substantially horizont .l

Wvhen the forward car 'ier-16 descends to eifect replenishment the corresponding ratchet finger 53 will be lowered to engage the ratchet tooth immediately thereunder. rlhis effects a lowering of the thread holder, in this instance the forward holder -While in this low posit-ion the transferrer 30 will move the lowest bobbin toward the depleted shuttle, the end cor -esponding thereto being held by the lowest spring clip 5l so that threading of the shuttle may follow. After the transferring` operation. is completed the upper bobbins of the carrier 16 will fall relatively to the latter a distance equal to the diameter' of one bobbin. When the carrier rises under action of its spring 21 the bebhins will be in a position lower by the diameter of abobbin than they formerly occupied. The weft holder 42, however, is also lowered by the same amount, so the weftrends will still be horizontal. During the upward movement of the carrier 1G the finger movesV forwardly by the cam action of the front face of the ratchet tooth thereabore, and then springs over said teeth so as to be in positionto engage the same upon subsequent descent.

The operations described in connection with` the first 'transfer follows for all ensuing transfers the holder being moved down one space for each transfer so that the detent 4T engages a new notch 46. After the lastvtransfer the holder 42 will be in lowest position and when the compartment 16 is again lilled the said holder will be raised, the finger 53 being moved laterally to permit the upper passage' of the ratchet teeth. without engagement therewith.

I'Vhile I have described particularly the operation of the forward thread holder, it is to be understood that the rear holder 60 operates in substantially the same way. If it is desired to have more than two stacks of reserve bebbins, a'holder may be supplied for each stack. Furthermore, although I have described the invention in connection with a multicolor magazine, yet it is obvious that the invention may be employed wherein but one of the, carriers is employed as would be the casewith a single color loom.

lt is to be understood that the bobbin to be transferred is lirst given a down mot-ion with its carrier, the horizontal motion by the transferrer 30 to a position over the shuttle, and lastly, by means of other mechanism not-,set forth herein butshcwn in my aforesaid application, a downward umovement into the shuttle. It is because of the fact that the bobbin is given a" horizontal motion toward thelay that I am enabled to move the thread holders downwardly to a position below the top of the lay or shuttle box.

Each carrier may have a blunt pointed thread deflector 65, see Fig. 2, between the bobbins and thread holder. The deflectors conform to the slope of the conical bobbin tips and provide an elongated path through which the weft end passes. As the bobbin leaves the carrier and moves toward the shuttle at the time of transfer, that part of the weft which previously passed around the deiiector is released to provide additional slack, thereby reducing the likelihood of thread breakage. The lower end of each carrier has outlets 66 and 67 for the tips and butts, respectively, of the bobbins, the deiiectors terminating above the tip outlet, as shown in Fig. 7.

From the foregoing it Will be seen that I have provided a thread holder which has a step by step motion, moving to and remaining in a new position for each transfer, also, the holder is actuated by a bobbin carrier which reciprocates from a normally idle or inactive position to transfer position and then back to normal position. It will further be seen that provision is made for re'- taining the thread holder in any of its vertical positions and that after each transfer, although the bobbins have a relative downward movement with respect to their carriers, yet the ends extending therefrom are horizontal. Furthermore, it Will be noted that the ratchet finger Which cooperates With the ratchetpteeth moves with the bobbin carrier and is sufficiently flexible to slide over the inclined face of the ratchet tooth so as to become operatively related thereto. Vi'igain, as shown particularly in Fig. 5, the spring clips and ratchet teeth are so disposed that the weft ends need not become entangled with the actuating fingers.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those slilled in the art Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not Wish to be limited to the details herein disdisclosed, but What I claim is:

l. In a Weft replenishing loom, a bobbin carrier movable from normal non-transferring position to transferring position to move a bobbin supported thereby into transfer position, said carrier thereafter being returned to normal position, a thread holder to retain the weft ends extending from the bobbins supported by the carrier, said holder having provision forengaging the vveft ends at a plurality of spaced points, and means actuated by the carrier to give the thread holder successive movements all of Which are in one direction to advance the weft ends toward transfer position.

2. In a weft replenishing loom, a bobbin carrier movable from normal non-transferring position to transferring position to move a bobbin supported thereby into trans-- fer position, said carrier thereafter being returned to normal position, a thread holder, a plurality of devices on the thread holder to retain the weft ends of the bobbins mounted on the carrier and hold said weft ends in substantially parallel alignment, and means actuated by the carrier to give the thread holder a plurality of successive movements in the same direction to advance the weft ends toward transfer position.

3. In a weft replenishing loom, a bobbin carrier movable from normal non-transferring position to transferring position to move a bobbin supported thereby into transfer position, said carrier thereafter being returned to normal position, a thread holder movably mounted and having a plurality of devices to engage the weft ends extending from the bobbins of the carrier and hold said ends in substantial parallel relation, and paivl and ratchet elements, one of said elements movable With the carrier and the other movable with the holder, said elements effective to give the holder successive movements in the same direction by motions derived from the carrier.

4. In a Wett replenishing loom, a bobbin carrier movable from normal non-transferring position to transferring position te move a bobbin supported thereby into transfer position, said carrier thereafter being returned to normal position, a thread holder movably mounted and having a plurality of devices to retain the weft ends extending from the bobbins of the carrier and hold said ends in substantially parallel relation, a pawl element supported by and moving with the carrier, a plurality of ratchet teeth on the holder to be engaged by the pawl, said carrier when moving toward transfer position causing the paWl to give the holder a movement to carry the lowest weft toward transfer position, and means to prevent reverse motion of the holder when the carrier returns to normal position.

5. In a weft replenishing loom, a bobbin carrier movable from normal non-transferring position to transferring position to move a bobbin supported thereby into transfer position, said carrier thereafter being returned to normal position, a movably mounted thread holder having a plurality of devices to engage the weft ends extending from the bobbins of the carrier and hold said ends in substantially parallel relation, pawl and ratchet elements, one of said elements movable with the carrier and the other movable with the holder, said elements effective to give the holder successive movements in the same direction by motions derived from the carrier, and means to retainy the holder against reverse motion when the carrier returns to normal position..V A

6. In a weft replenishing loom, a bobbin carrier movable from normal non-transferring position to transferring position to move a bobbin supported thereby into transfer position, said carrier thereafter being' returned to normal position, a movably mounted thread holder, a plurality of spaced spring clips 4thereon to hold the weft ends extending from the bobbins of the carrier in substantially parallel relation, ratchet teeth on the holder spaced 'apart a distance substantially equal to the distance between adjacent clips, and a pawl supported. by and moving with the carrier to engage the ratchet teeth and effect successive movements of the holder in the same direction by motions derived from the carrier.

7. In a weft replenishing loom, a bobbin carrier movable from normal non-transferring vposition to transferring position to move a bobbin supported thereby into transfer position, said carrier thereafter being returned `to normal position, a movably mounted thread holder, a plurality of spaced spring clips thereonto hold the weft ends extending from the bobbins of the carrier in substantially parallel relation, ratchet teeth on the holder spaced apart a `distance substantially equal to the distance between adjacent clips, and a pawl supported by and moving with the carrier to engage the ratchet teeth and eect successive movements of the holder in the same direction by motions derived from the carrier, the ratchet teeth being located between the spring clips with respect to the direction in which the holder moves.

S. In a weft replenishing loom, a bobbin carrier movable from normal non-transferring position to transferring position to move a bobbin supported therebv into transfer po'- sition, said carrier thereafter being returned to normal position, a movably mounted thread holder, a plurality of spaced spring clips thereon to hold the weft ends extending from the bobbins of the carrier in substantially parallel relation, ratchet teeth on theholder spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the distance between adjacent clips, and a pawl supported by and moving` with the carrier to engage the ratchet teeth and effect successive movements of the holder in the same direction by motions deriv-d from the carrier, said pawl being Vresilient and capable of lateral movement when in engagement with a portion of a rachet tooth4 during the return movement of the carrier to normal position following a transfer.

9. In aweftV-replenishing loom, a bobbin carrying member having one complete reciprocation foreach transfer, a thread holding member to hold the vveft ends extending from the bobbins in the carrier, and means carried by one member and engaging the other to give the thread holding member successive movements in the same direction to advance the weft ends toward transfer position.

l0. In a weft replenishing loom, a bobbin carrying member having one complete reciprocation for each transfer, a thread holding member to hold the weft ends extending from the bobbins in a carrier, means carried by one member and engaging the other to give the thread holding member successive movments in the same direction to advance the weft ends toward transfer position, and means to retain the thread holder member and prevent movement of thevsame when the bobbin carrier member is completing a reciprocation thereof.

ll. ln a weft replenishing loom, a fixed frame, va bobbin carrier having a vertical reciprocation in the frame foreach transfer, the carrier being normally raised and moving down prior to transfer to place the lowest bobbin therein in transfer position and being movablesbaclr to normal position after transfer, a thread holder slidable vertically on the frame, and means under control of the carrier to give the holder successive downward movements in the same direction, one for each transfer, the holder assuming and retaining a new position for each reciprocation of the carrier.

l2. In a weft replenishing mechanism having a stack of vertically aligned bobbins, a carrier for said bobbins movable vertically and normally inraised position but depressible to a lower position to move the lowest bobbin therein to transfer, a thread holder to which are attached the 'weft ends extending from the bobbins, and a deflector interposed between the weft on the bobbins and the thread` holder and engaging the weft ends to require said ends to assume form other than a straight line, said deflector terminating at a point above a bobbin in transfer position, whereby when the bobbin passes to transfer position' with the carrier the weft end thereof will be slackened to facilitate transfer.

ln a weft replenishing mechanism having a stack of vertically aligned bobbins, a carrier for-said bobbins movable vertically and normally in raised position but depressible to aflower position to move the lowest bobbin therein to transfer, a thread holder to which are attached the weft ends extending from the bobbins, and a deflector interposed between'the weft on the bobbins-and the thread holder and engaging the weft ends to require said ends to assume a form other than a straight line, said deliector terminating at a point `above-a bobbin in transfer position, whereby When the bobbin passes to transfer position with the carrier theV vveft end thereof Will be slackened to facilitate transfer, said deflector being rigid with and moving with the carrier.

14. In a weft replenishing loom having a series of vertically aligned bobbins which are movable toward transfer position, a carrier for the bobhins, weft ends extending from the bobbins, a thread holder to Which the Weft ends are secured, and a deflector for the weft ends formed as an integral part of the Weft carrier and extending substantially parallel to the path of movement of the bolobins as they move tovvard transfer position, said deflector engaging the bobhins and weft ends intermediate the vveft on the bobbins and the thread holder to give said weft ends a form other than a straight line, the weft ends passing beyond the deflector as the bobbins move to transfer position so that a weft end of the bobbin in transfer position will be slackened to facilitate transfer.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto afliXed my signature.

ALBERT A. GORDON. 

